The Academic Program

The Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program (CMB) in biomedical sciences represents an interdisciplinary approach to graduate education with faculty in many sub-disciplines of biology dedicated to helping qualified students pursue original research using modern approaches to cell and molecular biology. The CMB graduate program brings together faculty from three colleges and various research institutes. Planning for collaborative research is emphasized in this program, as well as solid training in a variety of laboratory techniques.

The CMB graduate program provides fellowships for PhD students in their first year, and additional support in the way of research or teaching assistantships are available for qualified applicants in subsequent years. The program is intended to prepare students for careers in academia, research institutes, and in expanding areas of biotechnology in the private sector.

Master's students fall into two categories, depending on whether they opt for a Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis). The MS Plan B is usually a terminal degree, appropriate for professionals in medical technology, government, and related fields who wish to obtain broad training in modern cell biology to advance their credentials in their chosen fields. The completion of the MS Plan A serves as a qualifying examination for students who intend to continue toward the PhD in cell and molecular biology. It may also serve as a terminal degree for those who wish to pursue careers as research technicians, either in the public or private sector.

Advising

Graduate Study

Applicants are expected to have at least a bachelor's degree emphasizing biological or physical sciences with courses in calculus, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and cellular and molecular biology. Applicants with MD degrees are welcome. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test should be submitted with the application, and students whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Three letters of recommendation from former instructors or research supervisors, a CMB program graduate express form, and transcripts from previous universities or colleges attended must also be submitted.

Master's Degree

The curriculum core of the CMB program is a specialized lecture class, spanning two semesters (CMB 621-622). Additional required courses are CMB 611 Seminar in Biomedical Science and CMB 626 Ethics in Biomedical Research. The remaining credit requirements can be fulfilled by specialized courses, seminars, and research units as recommended by the particular committee and research advisor each student picks to guide their academic program. Following the completion of the two semester core course, the student is expected to pass a qualifying exam, form a committee, and then propose, complete, and defend an original research project (MS Plan A) or study plan and research paper (MS Plan B).

Doctoral Degree

PhD candidates do not need to have completed a master's degree. If an MS was not earned through the CMB program, the core lecture class is required (CMB 621-622). Formal course requirements beyond the core include additional courses specified by the dissertation committee, including CMB 611 Seminar in Biomedical Science, CMB 626 Ethics in Biomedical Research, and three laboratory rotations. The student is expected to form a committee, propose, complete, and defend an original research project and publish at least one paper in a peer-reviewed journal during their graduate career.

Neuroscience Specialization

The Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program participates in the interdisciplinary "Area of Concentration in Neuroscience." This is a graduate "specialization" rather than a free-standing graduate program. CMB students interested in this specialization will take normal requirements for CMB plus additional coursework as determined by the Neuroscience Specialization. They will be eligible for graduate degrees in Cell and Molecular Biology (Neuroscience), presuming that their dissertation research includes an emphasis on application of Cell and Molecular Biological techniques to a Neuroscience research issue (or vice versa).

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